£1.2m investment scheme gets underway

Wakefield Council deputy leader Denise Jeffrey at the Kinsley & Fitzwilliam Learning and Community Centre, which is one of the areas to benefit from the �1.2m invested in the South East.'Pete Taberner, Sandra Pickin, Denise Jeffery, Amanda Lockett, Glyn Lloyd'Jane Edwards and Beth Lumb

Published:10:00Saturday 24 October 2015

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Wakefield Council is improving roads, parks and buildings as part of a £1.2m investment programme in the South East.

The first project to be completed was the £80,000 development of the Kinsley and Fitzwilliam Learning and Community Centre.

The funding was used to convert two empty units at the centre into training rooms for hairdressing students.

Coun Denise Jeffery, cabinet member for economic growth and skills, said: “This funding has made fantastic improvements to the Kinsley and Fitzwilliam Learning and Community Centre.

“It will make sure that more young people will be able to access valuable training for their careers in the district.”

Centre manager Michelle Rayner said: “We are very grateful to the local authority as this is a project we have wanted to do for several years.

“We started running the classes in September and already we have 36 students. It will make a big impact to the community because it will give the students the qualifications to go out and work.”

The council is working on more than 30 other projects including improving Upton Pavilion, building a new skate park in Minsthorpe and improving roads in Havercroft.

Coun Jeffery said: “These projects have been chosen to help make a real difference to people in our communities.

“With more limited resources available, we have focused on key projects which will make a difference in our communities and deliver economic growth in the district.

“The majority of the projects are still in there very early stages but I look forward to welcoming these improvements to the South East over the next couple of years.”